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No. 609, lfl. Patented Aug. l6, I898.

n. s. mmLLm.

GARMENT Human:

(Application flled- June 16, 1897.)

(No Horde-l.)

' had to the accompanying drawings, in which 1 NITE nron.

ROBERT S. MOMILLIN, OF INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA, ASSIGNO ROF ONE- HALF TO VIRGIL H. LOOKWOOD, OF SAME PLACE.

GARM ENT-HOLD ER.

SPECIFICATION forming art of Letters Patent No. 609,117, dated August 16, 1898.

Application filed June 16; 1897.

' useful Garment-Holder; and I do hereby declare that the followingis a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being like figures refer to like parts.

My invention is a garment-holder adapted to hold a bicyclers trousers-legs tightly about his ankles instead. of the spring-band that is customarily used for that purpose. This holder has the advantage over the springband of being invisible and of being always in place, so that when the bicycler alights he can readily open the holder, whereupon his trousers-legs will resume their normal shape, and yet the holder will be in place for use when he desires again to mount his bicycle and during the interim will be invisible and in no wise inconvenient to the person wearing it. The device is also a substitute for garters and stocking-supporters, as it will draw the stocking tightly about the limb at the place where the holder is attached, will be invisible, will always be in place for use, and will not in any wise be uncomfortable to the wearer. It has an advantage over most stocking-supporters because it will not tend to any extent to cut or pull out a part of the stocking.

The invention can also be used for other purposes besides those above mentioned where it is sought to decrease the dimensions of the garment.

The full nature of the invention will appear from the following description and claims and the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings, Figure 1 shows the lower part of the leg of a man with his trousers tightened about his ankle'with this garmentholder. Fig. 2 shows the location of the holder on the inside of the trousers-leg. Fig- 3 is an elevation of the holder opened. Fig. 4: is an elevation of the same closed. Fig. 5 is a top or plan view of the holder open. Fig. 6 shows the holder applied to the stocking.

In detail this holder, which is preferably made of wire, comprises two parts or arms 1 Serial No. 641,065. (No model.)

and 2, respectively. The part 1 is made by forming a wire in a somewhat rectangular figure, having, however, at one end the curved spring 3. At the opposite end the ends of the wire are connected at 4. l The spring end 3 is preferably curved outward, as shown. The part 1 of theholder is also preferably curved, as shown in Fig. '5, so as to conform to the curvature of the leg or other part of the body which is covered by the garment to be held.

The part 2 of the holder consists of a single wire bent into theform shown. The body of it extends normally in a line with the part 1. Each end is brought under the spring 31, extending, preferably, about one-half inch beyond the spring or curved end, as shown at 5, then bent back over said spring or curved portion 3 at a point farther away from its middle and coiled about the spring 3, as shown at 6, one or more times. Then the ends 7 are extended at right angles to the body of the device, one above and one below, as seen in Fig. 3. It is observed that this construction makes a spring-joint between the two parts 1 and 2, so that when opened the parts will be in the position shown in Fig. 5, and when the part 2 is turned back, as shown in Fig. 4:,

it will be held in the closed position by the combined action of the parts 3 and 5. When the parts 1 and 2 are in the opened position, as seen in Fig. 5, it is observed that they conform to the limb or garment, and they should be curved more or less in order that they may conform to the shape of the limb or garment when open.

This holder is held in place on the inner or under side of the garment by the two ends or prongs 7, that extend into the meshes of the garment. When applied to a trousers-leg, it extends through the portion of the goods turned in and not through the main body of the goods, for then the prongs would be visible from the outside. When secured in such position, the garment is tightened by turning back one of the arms. I preferably make the parts 1 and 2 of different lengths. When the trousers-leg therefore is normally very loose, I can make it tight about the ankle by turning back the longer one of the arms of the holder; but if the fold that can be made in the garment is not very great I turn back the shorter one of the two parts.

In use as a garter or stocking-supporter it is attached on the under side by means of the prongs 7, extending through the material, and is operated in the same way as above described. The length of the arms or parts of the stockingholder, especially for small stockings, should be less than in the ordinary trousers-holder; but in any case the length of the arms or the parts are such as to adapt the holder for the practical use desired. Of course for childrens stockings the holder would be made of smaller dimensions than for larger stockings or trousers.

The prongs or points 7 should not be sharp, for then they might scratch or penetrate the skin accidentally. They should be blunt preferably.

It is observed that in this holder there are no cutting surfaces whereby the garment could be injured at all, and when the holder is open its presence in the trousers would not be discovered by any other person and itwould be in no manner an inconvenience to the person wearing it. If at any time the spring becomes weak, the tension of it can be increased by increasing the curvature of the part 3, and this can be readily done by any one without a tool.

The article is very light and cheap in construction and exceedingly efficient and convenient in use.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A garment-holder comprising two arms connected by a double-acting spring joint or hinge, whereby the two parts will be held by the spring open or closed, and means near the joint for securing the holder to the garment.

2. A garment-holder comprising two arms or parts formed of wire or similar elastic material, the end of one part being outwardly curved and the ends of the other part extending under said curved portion and then back over the same at a pointfarther away from the middle of said curved portion, and means for securing the parts near their joint to the garment.

3. A garment-holder comprising two parts made of wire or similar elastic material, the ends of one part being outwardly curved and the ends of the wire forming the other part being passed under said curved portion and then back over the same at a point farther away from the center of the curved portion, then coiled about said curved portion one or more times, and then projected outward, one end extending from one side and the other from the other side, substantially as set forth.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 4th day of June, 1897.

ROBERT S. MCMILLIN.

WVitnesses: 1

V. H. LOOKWOOD, ZULA GREEN. 

